Northerns thrash Olympia to win the finals

The physical game, which saw three yellow cards and two reds, took place at Benoni Northerns Sports Ground, in extraordinarily hot weather conditions – forcing players to take water breaks.

The game started with both teams showing character and matching each other pound for pound.

However, it was the visitors who attempted a goal with a free-kick that went just a few centimetres over the top post early in the game.

Refusing to be overpowered, Northerns immediately responded with an attack, which nearly got them a goal.

The powerful shot saw the Olympia goalkeeper mishandling the ball just in front of the goalposts.

However, his team-mate came to his rescue by clearing the ball before a Northerns player could finish it.

The focus of the game at this stage had shifted to Northerns, with their talented and fantastic holding midfielder Geff Habib initiating most of his side’s attacks from the middle of the park, with his genius killer passes.

However, most were intercepted by the opposition players.

His ability to read and change the game gave Northerns shape and the edge in the midfield.

Northerns could have taken the lead in the 25th minute, when they were awarded a free kick after their player was fouled on the edge of the box.

The sharp Olympian goalkeeper cleared the well curved ball and forced an corner kick instead.

And it was Olympian’s attacking midfielder Gianni Infanti who opened the score line in the 33rd minute.

He took a stunning and powerful long-drive shot just after centre line, which left Northerns goalkeeper hanging in the air.

The goal seemed to have given Olympia some courage and they started going forward more and attacking often.

But, the game changed altogether in the second half, with Olympia completely losing shape in the middle of the park.

This resulted in the ball playing only in Olympia’s half and forcing their defenders to commit mistakes from time to time.

Northern’s coach Jannie van den Berg’s troops started to show a lot of character in the second half – clearly exerting pressure on the opposition.

Their attitudes showed that they were not prepared to lose on home soil, in front of their supporters.

Northerns’ efforts paid off in the 22nd minute, when Sky van den Berg intercepted Habib’s clinical pass, which he put in the back of the net, giving the Olympia keeper no chance.

Two minutes later, the Olympia keeper was red-carded and Olympia were left with 10 men in the field.

The game went to extra time and it was only in the second half of extra time that Northerns sealed their win with a penalty, after an Olympian player handled the ball in the box.

Van den Berg scored from a rebound, after his first strike was blocked by the Olympian goalkeeper.

Northerns could have won the game by three goals, but their third was disallowed for off-side.

At the end, Olympia coach Giovanni Dibenedetto said his charges gave the game everything they could.

He, however, felt a bit robbed, saying Northerns were playing a dirty game.

“We were also unfortunate not to score more goals,” he added.

His excited counterpart at Northerns felt his charges put in a good performance.

“It was a 50/50 game and we managed to convert our chances,” he said.